If you don't . . .
We are experiencing a heat wave over here in D.C., which reminds me that summer is just about officially here, along with all the hot, sticky, fun, sweet summer memories that it brings!
But, I've had summer on my mind for a couple of weeks now as we have been working hard to get our Summer Art Therapy Course up and running in Northern Iraq for kids who have been displaced by ISIS. You might remember seeing pictures or videos from last summer's program and the community events that our kids hosted for their friends and families.
Will you help us change the world by committing to sponsor a child this summer? Everyone who sponsors a child will receive a special gift made from a piece of this summer's art.
So, what happens if you don't sponsor a child?
Well, the Haven Center closes it's doors for the Art Program. Kids who've been displaced by ISIS and are still recovering from the trauma of masked terrorists, not on their TV, but in their living room, huddle in what little pockets of shade they can find from the hot Iraqi sun. They help their moms clean the house and fetch water, drag their little siblings out of the way of people working, wake up sweating from the heat and screaming from the nightmares, and spend hours clenching their fists into their stomach to quiet the rumblings.
It's $240 to change a child's life, to change the trajectory of their story from one of despair to one of hope.
The power of a paintbrush in the hand of a child, and a loving teacher whispering inspiration is more than we often have the capability to imagine. Because we have never been without paint, or without a smiling instructor encouraging us .
But for many of our students, this course may be an entirely new experience, and who knows which of these may not be the next Banksy, or K'Naan, or Ridwan Adhami?
We stand here with a unique chance to not only change the lives of 50 kids, but in turn to impact their community and an entire town that has been radically changed by radical terrorism.